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tyre pressures in snow

G

Guest

Guest
Julian,
I won't rise too much to your bait!
I have usefully dropped tp by 5 psi for snow, but only on tarmac
roads and never on gravel or rock roads, to preserve the sidewalls.
Lal commented about the hassle of putting chains on. But Lal have a
look at the new generation chains that use a heavy jointed cable to
clip on the inside of the tyre. You put them on without moving the
wheel, not like the old type where you had to spread them on the
road, drive into the middle of it then pull both halves up to the top
of the tyre and then with your third hand do-up the fastenings.
Unlike the old type the new generation have a diamond pattern that
gives better grip and a smoother ride when the tarmac comes to the surface.
I once demonstrated my chains to Julian and put one on in a car park
in less than 2 minutes. They are easy to use.
Funny thing about this week's weather. I saw the forecast, and as I
had to go to my lock-up garage anyway for some oil (for the Pajero) I
decided to pick up my chains just in case. Yes, UK, big 4WD, but with
chains too?
This shows how much I have come to respect the use of chains. I was
in Belarus for a few years (its between Poland and Russia) and there
I got used to driving on powder snow which is like sand driving. I
used studs which were so so but I got away with it.
I then spent time in Central Russia where it got down to minus 38
with some serious snowfall, and it was studs again in my big Volga.
They are OK but not much good in loose snow and don't sprag well
enough when braking. They are useful on icy untreated roads but can
easily leave 4 clean grooves on the surface behind you and you still
slip sideways under heavy acceleration or braking.
Then in 1999 I got to the Balkans. Here, in all the former
Yugoslavia, they always had a law that chains had to be used on
nearly all mountain passes. When it starts snowing the local police
chief decides when it is bad enough to send out police to man road
blocks at the bottom of each pass to inspect every vehicle for
chains, even 4WD's. The reason is not just for traction when climbing
a hill, its more for control when braking on the downslope, that is
when incidents occur, and a big 4WD like an 80 can slide sideways
with the best of them. Put chains on the back axle and when you brake
you will keep straight. Without chains, no matter how 'heavy' the
tyre tread may be, when the wheel slows under braking it fills the
tread with snow/ice and you have slicks.
So had it been bad enough this week I would happily have used the
chains on my 80 and I would have known that I was in far better
control of my truck's direction than others in front and behind me.
Had I used them I would have been the only car in the SE of England
with chains fitted I am sure. I can't understand why there is no
requirement for them. Look at the tv pictures of cars spinning in
Brum on Friday night, that does not happen with chains on, and the
new ones are even easily fitted by ladies too - all our female staff
had training in fitting them before they could go out into the field in winter.
Yes, chains are not too good when it starts to clear and speeds
increase, but I have travelled miles and miles at 50kph with no
apparent damage to either chains or tyres. There are a lot of myths
out there about that. My chains have now done 4 Balkan winters.
In the event, although currently on top of the Chilterns I used the
Pajero and left the 80 for when it became man's work to get about in
the snow ;o)
Cheers
Jon
Tring,Herts
'92 HZJ80 ex UN Bosnia surplus
 
Jon,
Do u have a link to these 'new' style chains. I've seen stuff on them years ago but never in the flesh.
I do have big, chunky old style chains (even had extra v's on them which are good 4 icy roads) but a PITA to get on. I'm
sure its 10-15mins 4 me 2 get them on - maybe better with more pratice; but its kinda something I'm loathe 2 do!
Lal
toyj80 wrote:
...
 
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